State Dept: 'No' Vote Means 'America's Not Willing To Stand By What It Says'

State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf was put on the defensive Friday after she asserted that a vote to authorize military action from Congress would be America speaking with “one voice” concerning military action in Syria. Associated Press reporter Matt Lee questioned if that the reverse would also be true — asking if the Congress voted “no” would that be America speaking in “one voice.” Harf said no because the President would still believe that action in Syria would be necessary. “What I think it would show to the rest of the world,” Harf explained, “is that America is not willing to stand by what it says. And when we say we need to take action to protect international norms that the United States’ Congress isn’t willing to stand by that.”